Compostable product packaging

Abstract

A compostable food packaging container. The container may have from about 84% to about 94% by weight cPLA, from about 5% to about 15% by weight of an oxygen barrier material, and one or more additives. In some embodiments, the container may be a beverage pod. The oxygen barrier material may be polyglutamic acid in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the oxygen barrier material is ethylene vinyl alcohol. The oxygen barrier material may be a food contact grade material. The one or more additives may include an impact modifier and a nucleating agent in some embodiments. Moreover, the one or more additives may include a pigment. The food packaging container may be formed of a sheet material having one or more layers. The sheet material may be extruded, co-extruded or laminated. In some embodiments, the sheet material may be thermoformed or vacuum formed to form the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compostable material for a food packaging container, the material comprising:
 two external layers comprising about 90% to about 97% by weight of a compostable polymeric material;   an internal layer arranged between the external layers, the internal layer comprising an oxygen barrier material configured to decrease the oxygen transmission rate of the food packaging container; and   two bonding layers, each bonding layer arranged between the internal layer and an external layer, the bonding layers comprising a bonding agent configured to bond the internal layer with the external layers.   
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable polymeric material is cPLA. 
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is polyglutamic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is ethylene vinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is a food contact grade material. 
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the external layers further comprise an impact modifier and a nucleating agent. 
     
     
         7 . A compostable food packaging container comprising:
 about 84% to about 94% by weight cPLA;   about 5% to about 15% by weight of an oxygen barrier material; and   one or more additives.   
     
     
         8 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the container is a beverage pod. 
     
     
         9 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is polyglutamic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is ethylene vinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is a food contact grade material. 
     
     
         12 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more additives comprise an impact modifier and a nucleating agent. 
     
     
         13 . The compostable food packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more additives comprise a pigment. 
     
     
         14 . A method for producing a compostable food packaging container, the method comprising the steps of:
 extruding a first layer, the first layer comprising about 90% to about 97% of a compostable polymer;   extruding a second layer, the second layer comprising a compostable oxygen barrier material; and   extruding a bonding layer, the bonding layer configured to bond the first and second layers together.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the compostable polymer is cPLA. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxygen barrier is polyglutamic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxygen barrier material is ethylene vinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer further comprises an impact modifier and a nucleating agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 passing the layers through a die; and   thermoforming the layers to form the food packaging container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the food packaging container is a beverage pod.